My IC started one morning when my husband and I came back from celebrating our three year wedding anniversary. I woke up and noticed what I thought was a bladder infection. I used to get bladder infections all the time and my Urologist kept giving me Cipro almost every month. I even remember calling him on my honeymoon from Hawaii. Whenever I traveled I would get a bladder infection and antibiotics always helped for at least a couple of weeks. Then I got pregnant with my son and my bladder infections stopped for about three years. I was so happy and thought that giving birth had somehow changed my body and I was done with it.

 

After having my son and gaining 70 lbs. I was determined to lose it all in 1 year and I did. I went to the gym regularly and lived on three salads a day soaked in vinegar and took ephedra diet pills. I also drank lots of wine.

 

So that morning of June 8th, 2005 I looked in my cabinet and I had an old bottle of Cipro. Even thought I hadn't had any bladder infections in a while, I always kept the Cipro around especially when I traveled. I took one that morning thinking I would be better in an hour or two but that didn’t happen. I thought maybe the pills were old and I needed a new prescription so I went to see my Gynecologist. He examined me and didn’t find anything abnormal. He gave me a new prescription even though my tests for a bladder infection were normal. I went home and started to take the pills. At first I thought I was getting better but then all my symptoms came back. I started to panic because the antibiotics always worked before.

 

I called the doctor back and he had me come in and ran some more tests. When the tests were normal he referred me to a Urologist. He also mentioned something called Interstitial Cystitis but didn’t think I had it. I went to see the Urologist who also couldn’t find anything wrong and suggested a diet and if I didn't feel better in a few days to call him. At this point I was feeling awful. I couldn’t empty my bladder and I was urinating constantly. After three days I went back to the Urologist who gave me some brochures about IC. After reviewing the materials I realized that this was my problem.

 

When I went back to the Urologist, he started me on Heparin which wasn’t helping. Then he told me something I will never forget, that "there is no cure!” I thought my life was over and I started to cry. He looked at me with such surprise and said ”I don’t understand why you’re crying, you’re not going to die from this!” I looked back at him and told him that it wasn’t the quantity but the quality of life that I was worried about. He thought I was depressed and prescribed anti-depressants which he said should also help with my bladder. I left that day asking “God” to help me because I never wanted to return to this place again and my prayers were answered.

 

My husband started doing research on IC and two names kept coming up. One was a doctor who treated IC using antibiotics and the other was Matia Brizman. I felt I had enough antibiotics and knew that this was not the way I wanted to go. I went on Matia’s website and read some success stories and started to get some hope. I called her office and spoke with a woman named Raquel who explained to me that there was about a three week wait for an appointment. I started to cry on the phone and explained how scared and depressed I felt. She was very understanding and compassionate. She made me feel a lot better and took time to talk to a perfect stranger she never met and she has been that wonderful ever since. The next morning Raquel called me herself and told me that there was a cancellation a week earlier. The next two weeks were hell. I suffered every day and night. Falling asleep with a full bladder was the worst. I was not able to take care of my son any longer and couldn’t take care of myself. Then finally the day came. Honestly I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to believe she could help me but I still had my doubts. I barely made it to her office because I was in so much pain. When I came in I was crying.

 

Raquel came out and introduced herself. She was as wonderful in person as she was on the phone. I’d like to point out that since I started with Matia, Raquel has been a great support in my life. I have not always been the easiest patient but she always understood. From the moment I met Matia, I knew I was in the right place. That day I gave her all my trust and I have never regretted it. I left Matia’s office and I was so happy. I knew she was going to help me get my life back.

 

Now I have to be honest, the treatment is not easy. The diet was very strict but that wasn’t the hardest thing. The hardest thing was that at times I felt I was going backwards and not forward. I had doubts, never in Matia but in my body’s ability to heal. I thought maybe I was too sick and not like everyone else. At times like these, I would read Matia’s success stories over and over. I would tell Matia about my doubts and she would tell me I would be OK and never gave up on me. I want to say, Matia is not like anyone I have ever met. Sometimes I laugh and say that she is not human. No one I know has her compassion and her heart. She is the most honest, caring and loving person I have ever met. I think of her as my angel and I don’t know where my life would be without her today. I went through a lot of things through my treatment. The die off was awful and they don’t call it die off for nothing. I had nausea, headaches, bladder pains, vulvadynia, stomach aches, frequency, pressure and times when I couldn’t get out of bed for days and even weeks.

 

Today, I am still on a diet and take herbs but I have to say that I am so much better. I can go to the park with my son, go on vacations with my husband and go hours without having to use the bathroom. I barely ever feel my bladder and I truly feel I have gotten my life back. I am writing this for people who are just starting this program. In the beginning, people's stories were what kept me going. If my story can even help one person feel better, then I feel I have accomplished something. I remember how hard it is in the beginning to believe you are going to get better but you will. I had more doubts that anybody because I am a pessimistic person by nature. I believe in my heart that my IC will be completely gone one day and I will always lead a healthier lifestyle. I will always be grateful to Matia, Raquel, my husband and all the people who were there for me when I needed them most!